Idea for plant-filled, turn-reducing median on First Avenue East is dead

CEDAR RAPIDS - A City Hall concept that calls for a raised, plant-filled median on First Avenue East between 27th and 40th streets is dead, say City Council member Monica Vernon and City Manager Jeff Pomeranz.

Vernon took time out at last night's council meeting to stress that the idea for the median was just that, an idea, and she said she had fielded numerous phone calls from residents and business owner who opposed the median concept.

In interviews last week, Barbra Bateman, owner of Barb's Computer Service, 2706 First Ave. NE, said someone at City Hall must be on drugs to propose such an idea while David Taylor, owner of the Auto Mart, 3917 First Ave. SE, called the proposed median “a death sentence” for the dozens of businesses that line the stretch of First Avenue East between 27th and 40th streets SE.

The idea for the median was not simply a stray thought floated to generate public comment. In fact, it was part of a comprehensive proposal from the city's project consultant presented during a public input session earlier this month. In the proposal, the median is seen as a way to reduce the number of left turns on busy First Avenue NE with the intent to reduce the number of accidents and reduce traffic congestion.

But businesses owners say they depend on the ability of customers traveling both directions on First Avenue East to be able to turn off First Avenue East into their businesses.

District 2 council member Vernon, whose council district includes the section of First Avenue East in question, called on the city manager to send the road improvement project back to the engineers for reworking. No one on the City Council objected.

“Keep it simple,” Vernon said. She said improvements to the First Avenue East section should include new pavement and perhaps additional sidewalks and the movement of utility lines underground.

Vernon has been a leading voice on the council for turning the city's highest-profile streets into prettier “signature” streets, and the proposal for a raised median was also seen as a way to beautify First Avenue East to enhance its signature, Gary Petersen, the city's capital improvement project manager, said last week.

Vernon said last night that First Avenue East will be a signature street without the raised median.

City Manager Pomeranz said the city took the median idea to a public forum to get feedback on it.

“We received that,” he said. “We'll be back with an alternative proposal.”